JESUS, THE SPIRIT, AND FREEDOM

John Paul Speaks

THE SOURCE OF TRUE FREEDOM

The Holy Spirit, Who "searches the depths of God", is at the same
time the light that illumines man's conscience and the source of his true
freedom.

"FULL FREEDOM"

In the sanctuary of his conscience, man's most secret core, God makes His
voice heard and His law known... By following this law in the light and power
of the Holy Spirit, man achieves his full freedom.

THE TRUTH WILL MAKE YOU FREE

Adhering to God's plan for man revealed in Christ Jesus and fulfilling it
in one's own life means discovering the authentic vocation of human freedom,
as Jesus promised His disciples: "If you continue in My word, you are
truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you
free" (Jn 8:31-32).

HOLDING FAST TO JESUS

It is not only a question of listening to a message and obediently accepting
a commandment. "More radically, it involves holding fast to the very
person of Jesus, partaking of His life and His destiny, sharing in His free
and loving obedience to the will of the Father" (Veritatis splendor,
n. 19).

JESUS FREES

By fully complying with the Father's will, "the crucified Christ reveals
the authentic meaning of freedom..." Indeed, with the absolute freedom
of His love He forever redeems man who, by abusing his freedom, had turned
away from God; He frees man from the slavery of sin and, by granting him a
share in His Spirit, gives him the gift of authentic freedom (cf. Rom 8:2;
Gal 5:1, 13).

"THE HIGHEST EXPRESSION OF FREEDOM"

By living in Christ through faith and the sacraments, the Christian also
"freely commits his entire self" to God the Father... The act of
faith by which he makes a responsible decision for God, believes in His love
revealed in the crucified and risen Christ, and abandons himself responsibly
to the influence of the Holy Spirit...is the highest expression of freedom.

ADVANCING ON THE PATH OF FREEDOM

By joyfully fulfilling the Father's will in every circumstance of life, ...the
Christian advances on the path of authentic freedom and looks with hope to
the time when he will enter into the "full life" of the heavenly
homeland.

"SPIRITUAL FREEDOM"

"By the working of grace", the Catechism of the Catholic Church
teaches, "the Holy Spirit educates us in spiritual freedom in order to
make us free collaborators in His work in the Church and in the world"
(CCC, n. 1742).

(Source: General Audience, September 2, 1998)

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